In 2010 he was released to the English intelligence community following a ‘spy-swap’ which saw England receive four prisoners in exchange for ten Russian spies. Having been seeking asylum in England, in the past two years Skripal’s wife, brother and son have also died although it is unclear if the deaths are connected to recent events.

Services are yet to declare that a crime has been committed but British intelligence officers working at the scene have also cordoned off the areas surrounding the shopping centre. The police are also looking for an unidentified man and woman who were seen walking near the location shortly before the poisoning.

It has already been speculated by UK ministers that this weekend’s events have strong similarities to the poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.

In response to the alleged ‘poisoning’, UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has suggested that more sanctions will be imposed on Russia if a link between the government and recent events are discovered. The case however also brings to light the British intelligence community and their ability to protect people who place the safety of their lives and that of their families into British hands.

Not yet confirmed he was murdered, but after the UK's pathetic response to Litvinenko's assassination with polonium in London, why wouldn't Putin do it again? https://t.co/Xh8B4bxmd5

At a time when global relations with Russia remain relatively fraught, the fresh speculations that the Russian government is ultimately behind the poisoning harks back to a time of Cold War secrecy and heightened threats of war. If found out to be the case, this could potentially serve as a major blow to the progress and relations of a number of countries.